Art and Self expression
I don’t think I ever consciously decided that art was something I loved. It was just always there.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawing. Not in a structured, sit down and practice kind of way. It was more instinctive than that. I’d find myself doodling in the margins of notebooks, sketching without thinking, filling empty space just because I couldn’t leave it blank. It was never something I had to force, and I think that’s what made it stick.
Growing up, I took art classes here and there, but most of what I developed came from just doing it on my own. There was no pressure around it, no expectation that it had to turn into something. It was just something I returned to, over and over again.
At some point, I realized it was more than just a habit.
It became a way of processing things without having to explain them.
There are things that are hard to put into words, or don’t feel right when you try to. Art gives you another way to express that. Not everything has to be clearly defined or explained. Sometimes it just has to exist.
That idea has shaped how I approach creativity in general. I don’t like forcing meaning into everything I make. I don’t think everything needs a deep explanation. Sometimes the feeling is enough. Sometimes the visual is enough. Sometimes the point is just that it made sense to me in that moment. And if someone else connects with it, that’s just a bonus.
Over time, that way of thinking started to expand beyond drawing. I started seeing self expression in everything. In the way people dress, the way they style things, the way they curate their spaces, the way they present themselves. It all says something, whether it’s intentional or not.
Fashion especially became a big part of that for me. It’s one of the most immediate forms of self expression. You don’t have to explain it. People see it before you even say anything. And what I like about it is that it can change. It doesn’t have to be consistent or fixed. Some days I want to be more minimal, more put together. Other days I lean into something more expressive, more layered, more unexpected. Neither one feels more correct than the other. They’re just different versions of the same thing.
I think that’s also why I’ve never been drawn to the idea of having one clear, defined “style.” It feels limiting. Like you’re supposed to pick something and stay there. But self expression doesn’t really work like that. It shifts depending on where you are, how you feel, what you’re drawn to at the time. It reflects change. And I think that’s what makes it interesting. For me, creativity isn’t something separate from my everyday life. It shows up in small ways. The way I put something together, the way I notice details, the way I approach things visually.
It’s not always about creating something finished or polished. Sometimes it’s just about the process. The act of making something, even if it never goes anywhere. That’s enough to me.
I also think creativity is closely tied to independence. The ability to trust your own ideas without needing them to be validated first. To make something because you want to, not because it fits into what’s expected or what’s trending. That’s something I’ve had to learn over time.
It’s easy to look around and feel like you should be creating in a certain way. There’s always something popular, something that gets attention, something that feels like the “right” direction to go in.
But the more I’ve leaned into my own instincts, the more my work actually feels like mine. Not perfect, not always consistent, but real. And that’s what I care about. At the end of the day, art and self expression aren’t about being the best or the most original or the most impressive. It’s about being honest in what you’re creating. Even if that honesty changes. Even if it looks different every time. Because that’s kind of the point.
